'Nuns on a Bus' stop in Homewood this week to rally for immigration reform (updated)

Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of Network, speaks during a stop on the first day of a 9-state Nuns on the Bus tour, Monday, June 18, 2012, in Ames, Iowa. The group of Roman Catholic nuns said then that they weren't opposing any particular political candidate but that their fight was with a Republican proposed federal budget they said hurts the poor and needy. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

HOMEWOOD, Alabama -- The “Nuns on the Bus” are back—this time, rallying with the people of Alabama for immigration reform at various events in Homewood on Tuesday, June 4 and Wednesday, June 5.

The nuns, in collaboration with Alabama people of faith, labor leaders, and immigration activists are urging Congress to consider immigration legislation that honors what they consider “America’s highest ideals” and that would allow aspiring Americans the opportunity to achieve the American dream.

On Tuesday, the nuns will participate in a civil rights forum along with other community leaders at La Casita, 92 Oxmoor Road, beginning at 6 p.m. The next day, at the same location, they will participate in a site visit and press conference at 10 a.m.

The Catholic Sisters, according to a news release “support legislation that provides a roadmap to citizenship for 11 million aspiring Americans, promotes family unity, and protects the rights of all immigrant workers.”

According to their website, the “Nuns on the Bus” call for immigration reform that:

Ensures family unity

Protects the rights of immigrant workers

Acknowledges that our borders are already secure, with only minor changes needed

Speeds up processing of already-approved immigrants

Enhances the present diversity visa program

Provides a clear and direct pathway to citizenship for the 11 million people who are undocumented in the U.S.

“Nuns on a Bus” began in 2012 with a bus trip across nine states that included stops at homeless shelters, food pantries, schools and health care facilities run by other nuns. According to a 2012 New York Times article, the first bus tour blossomed in response to “a blistering critique” of American nuns by the Vatican’s doctrinal office. In it, the doctrinal office accused the nuns of being outspoken on the issues of social justice, but remaining silent on issues such as abortion and gay marriage.

This year’s bus tour, focused primarily on the issues of immigration, began on May 28 in New Haven Conn. and is scheduled to conclude on June 18 in San Francisco.